There is a series on HBO called THE WIRE that explores the lives of young people, schools, drug dealers, police, and politicians in the City of Baltimore, Maryland. The show is compelling for several reasons. It raises critical questions about politics, schools, and social systems and the way they all tend to break down when it comes to fighting against drugs in the community and saving children from the streets. It addresses the inner fight politicians have to be loyal to the community while staying focused on their political aspirations. It shows the love/hate relationship police officers must have with drug dealers to catch the leaders. It addresses the daily battle in schools to educate children while being forced to meet testing quotas. The show also vividly displays the reality that many kids resort to the streets to survive the only way they know how. In a series of blog entry’s, I want to address what I personally feel are the most important themes from this show.

Although this drama is based on one particular city, the themes in the series are conducive of all cities in America. The problems addressed are real situations children and teenagers face in the inner city. This is the first season I’ve watched the show, and it made me want to buy all of the series. The news-media has taken notice of this series as well, particularly this season. Although there is harsh language and violence on the show, the message is not compromised. Some of the characters on the show remind me of people I knew growing up and I know there are many other people that can relate to them as well. Here are the common themes I want to address from the show:

Issue 1: Are there adequate social services and community programs to protect children from the streets or deter their involvement on the streets?

Issue 2: Do a large majority of children get involved in crime out of necessity to survive?

Issue 3: Are schools more focused on testing instead of meeting the educational, social and disciplinary needs of the students?

Issue 4: Are the police more concerned about numbers and politics than solving crimes? Do police officers care about the “insignificant” individuals that were engulfed in a life of crime and killed on the streets?

Issue 5: Do politicians always put their political aspirations above their desire to serve and meet the needs of the community through their position?

My goal is not to answer these questions, however my goal is to ask them and provide supporting data that will allow you to be an informed reader. The WIRE is fictional, but the themes expressed in the show are very real in every major city in America. Can children that are historically raised to live a life of crime be saved from it? I think they can be, but it will require a huge sacrifice from the children, the streets, the schools, the politicians and the police. The debate over the authenticity of the themes expressed in THE WIRE is pointless, because they are true themes and real questions that need to be answered. The only people that view the show as “over the top” or “far from reality” are the ones in denial. The sad reality is the show displays vividly the true depth of the fight to save this generation. It is my hope that this series of blogs will compel people to fight harder in the battle we are losing to the streets.

Here are some clips from The Wire that show how the kids are indoctrinated into the system of the streets. Some of the language and subject matter in the clips may not be suitable for all viewers.

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